Closure for collapsible tubes



. s- 933- c. w. JOHNSON I 1,922,204

CLOSURE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Fil'ed Nov. 6, 1951' W/Mm Patented Aug.15, 1933 PATENT OFFICE UNITED STATES 4 Claims.

This invention relates to receptaclesor containers for creamy or pastymaterial of the'type *material continues to be extruded after pressureupon the tube has been released, smearing and wasting considerablematerial, and also from the standpoint of sanitation, inasmuch as theopen end of the tube and contents are subjected to germs.

It is an object of my invention to provide a very simple,. inexpensiveand-highly efilcient' closure ordispensing cap for containers of theclass described which would be "automatically opened by the pressure ofthe contents and which will immediately close to out off extrusion ofthe material upon release of said pressure.

More particularly, it is an object of my invention to provide adispensing or cut-off closure associated with the spout or neck of acollapsible tube or analogous container which includes a valve appliedexternally to the discharge end of the neck and simple and eflicientyieldable means mounted within the neck for normally holding said valvetightly closed against its seat.

It is a further object to provide a closure structure in the classdescribed which may be associated with collapsible tubes and the likewithout adding to the expense of the usual threaded closure cap.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be morefully apparent from the following description made in connection withthe accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer tosimilar parts throughout the several views, and in which:--

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view partly in side elevation and partly inlongitudinal section showing one form of my invention applied to'acollapsible tube;

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing theanchoring or abutment element to which the inner end of the elasticvalve stem is secured;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view partly in side elevation and partly inlongitudinal section showing a somewhat different embodiment of myinvention;

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view mostly in longitudinal section showing apreferred form of my invention applied to a collapsible tube andillustrating the open position of the valve with the creamy or pastycontents in the process of extrusion.

With reference to the form of the-invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, myclosure mechanism is applied as an attachment to a conventional type ofcollapsible tube having the usual flexible body 6, tapered shoulders 7,and diminished and rigid neck 8, to contain creamy or pasty material M,such as, for example, tooth paste, vaseline, shaving cream, and thelike.

As shown, a cap or thimble 9 is threaded and detachably secured upon theexterior of the tube neck 8, said cap having an axial passagetherethrough,'which may, if desired, be diminished somewhat at its outerend and which terminates in a peripheral valve seat 9a for engaging atruncated conical valve.

The valve shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a truncated conical plug 10,having integrally formed with or aflixed thereto a valve stem 10aconstructed of elastic material, such as gum rubber. The inner end ofstem 10a has an enlargement or retaining head 10b which is securedwithin a transverse retaining or abutment plate 11 disposed within theaxial discharge passage cap 9.

I prefer to cast or otherwise form the valve 10, valve stem 10a andretaining head 10b integrally from suitable material, such as gumrubber, having a relatively high degree of elasticity and some degree ofcompressibility, although, of

, course, other suitable materials may be utilized,

provided the stem 10a is elastic and will normally hold the valve 10tightly seated against its seat 9a.

The retaining plate 11, as shown, is seated against a shoulder 9b formedin the medial portion of the internal peripheral wall of the cap 9 andmay be clamped, if desired, between said shoulder and the outer end ofthe neck 8. The retaining plate 11 may be provided, as shown, with akeyhole slot 11a communicating with one of the longitudinal edgesthereof for receiving stem 100. with the retaining head 10b disposedbeneath said plate.

In assembling the device, stem 10a is stretched to effect engagement ofthe head 10b with plate 11, and, in the completed device, the stem isunder constant tension adequate to positively seat the truncated conicalvalve.

Upon squeezing the body 6 of the tube or otherwise applying pressure tothe contents, the pasty or creamy material is forced through the axialpassage in the cap 9 and-exerts outward 2' 9 stem 10a. The material willbe extruded from the container in tubular form and immediately uponreleasing the pressure from the container ,and/or contents the tensionstem 1011 will posi- 5.tively seat, the valve cutting oil the dischargeof material. The discharge opening as will be noted, will be completelycovered by the valve and there is no opportunity for contamination ofthe contents through germs.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, thecollapsible tube is of similar structure to the form illustrated in Fig.1 and the cap is of similar general shape having threaded engagementwith the exterior periphery of the rigid neck 8 of the tube and providedwith an axial discharge passage. In this latter form, however, the valve21 carries a relatively non-elastic stem 21a mounted substantiallyaxially of the cap and carries a resilient ele- 20 ment, such as acontractile coil spring 22, which is interposed in the abutmentshoulders 23 provided in the internal peripheral wall of the cap justinwardly of the valve body and an abutment collar 24 which may becrimped or otherwise secured to the end of stem 21a. Abutment shoulders23 may comprise lugs cast upon the interior of the cap 20 or may be inthe form of an annular flange formed upon the internal periphery of saidcap. The valve 21 and stem 2111 are preferably constructed integrallyfrom any suitable material, such as metaL'fiber, or the like. a Inoperation, the valve 21 is normally held against its seat 20a by meansof coil spring 22, which applies inward pressure against the afllxedabutment collar 24. When outward pressure'is placed upon the contents ofthe collapsible tube or container the valve is forced outwardly andlongitudinally, opening the discharge end of the tube and the materialwill be extruded in tubular form. Upon releasing said pressure, thespring 22 quickly cuts on further extrusion of the material tightlyseating the valve.

In Fig. 5, a simple and inexpensive form of the invention is shownsimulating closely the form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. In the form ofFig. 5, however, my improved 'closure structure and cut-oil? is builtinto the spout andneck of the collapsible tube rather than being appliedthereto as an attachment. In said form, the collapsible tube has thespout portion, including shoulders and neck 31, cast or otherwise formedintegrally, said neck as shown having an axial discharge passage or boreprovided adjacent its inner end with an annular retaining shoulder 31awhich engages the retaining piate 11. The flexible body 32 of the tubesurrounds an attachment flange 30a and is secured thereto in aconventional manner after my closure structure has been assembled. Thevalve and valve stem are substantially identical with the form of myinvention illustrated in Fig. 1, being preferably constructed integrallyfrom elastic material,'such as gum rubber, the end of the valve engagingthe keyhole slot in retaining plate 11 being provided with anenlargement 10b.

The open position of the valve is shown in Fig. 5 with the pasty orcreamy material being extruded in tubular form.

It will be apparent that the form of my invention illustrated in Fig. 5may be manufactured as cheaply, if not more cheaply than the usualclosure structure used atthis time for collapsible tubes comprisingmerely a removable threaded cap. 4

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have provided apositive, quickly responsive, automatic closure for collapsible tubesand other containers wherein material is extruded bypressure-,thereagainst, adapted to effect satisfactory discharge orextrusion of the material, and further, positively and quickly cuttingoiI discharge of the material when the actuating pressure has beenreleased.

As is previously recited, my structure further prevents contamination ofthe material therein as well as subjection of a portion of the contentsto evaporation and subsequent hardening, which is prevalent in wellknown types of collapsible containers.

It will, of course, be understood that various' changes may be made inthe proportions, forms, details and arrangements of. parts withoutdeparting from the scope of my invention.

What is claimed is:-

1. In combination with a receptacle having a neck provided with alongitudinal discharge passage, a valve seat at the outer end of saidneck, a valve mounted axially and externally of said seat, said valvehaving a stem extending longitudinally of said discharge passage, saidstem being constructed of elastic material and means within said neckfor anchoring the inner end of said stem to normally hold said valveagainst its seat.

2. In combination with a collapsible tube having a longitudinallyextending discharge neck,

a valve seat at the outer end of said neck, a

valve mounted axially andlexternally of said seat, said valve havingattached thereto an ,;elongated stem extending axially within said neck,said stem being constructed of longitudinally stretchable elasticmaterial and means for anchoring the irmer end of said stem to normallyholdsaid valve against its seat.

3. Irncombination with a receptacle having a neck provided with alongitudinal discharge passage, a valve seat in the outer end of saidneck, an integrally formed valve including a valve head disposedexternally of said seat, and an elongated valve stem extending axiallywithin said discharge passage, said valve being constructed of .highlystretchable elastic material and means for anchoring the inner end ofsaid stem to normally hold said valve against its seat.

4. In combination with a receptacle having a neck provided with alongitudinal discharge passage, a valve seat in the outer end of saidneck, a valve mountedaxially and externally of said 'seat, said valvehaving attached thereto a stem extending axially within said neck, saidstem being constructed of highly stretchable and elastic material and arelatively narrow anchoring member extending transversely to theinterior of said neck and connected with the inner' end of said stem tonormally hold said valve against its seat.

CARL W. JOHNSON.

